Pitching Training Device

ABSTRACT

A pitching training device includes a connecting element and a pocket. The connecting element alternatively attached to the wrist of a throwing hand of a thrower. The pocket includes open and closed ends disposed at two opposite ends thereof. The open end of the pocket is connected with the connecting element and allowing the throwing hand and a ball gripped in the palm of the throwing hand into the pocket. The closed end of the pocket limits the thrown ball that cannot move to outside of the pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a training device and, moreparticularly, to a pitching training device for use in learning,practicing, and perfecting the act of throwing a ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

The ability to throw a ball is a basic skill in many sports, includingbaseball and softball, and practice pitches are essential not only toimprove a player's basic skill but also to keep a healthy and strong armin shape and to rehabilitate an arm that has been injured.Traditionally, throwing a ball repeatedly has required a partner toreturn the ball for another throw. Further, substantial space andrainless weather are required.

The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the main purpose is to provide apitching training device includes a connecting element and a pocket. Theconnecting element alternatively attached to the wrist of a throwinghand of a thrower. The pocket includes open and closed ends disposed attwo opposite ends thereof. The open end of the pocket is connected withthe connecting element and allowing the throwing hand and a ball grippedin the palm of the throwing hand into the pocket. The closed end of thepocket limits the thrown ball that cannot move to outside of the pocket.

An advantage of the pitching training device according to the presentinvention is that the thrown ball will be limited by the closed end ofthe pocket so that the thrower can throw the ball in the pocketrepeatedly himself and does not require a partner to return the ball foranother throw.

Another advantage of the pitching training device according to thepresent invention is that the pitching training device can be used inboth indoors and out, even in a narrow space, and is not affected by theweather.

Other objects, advantages, and new features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pitching training device inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the pitching training device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the pitching training device of FIG.1 illustrating the operation of dropping a ball to be gripped previouslyin the palm of a throwing hand reaching into a pocket.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the pitching training deviceillustrating the ball gripped in the palm of the throwing hand receivedin the pocket and a connecting element attached to the wrist of thethrowing hand.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view illustrating the ball released from thepalm and limited in the pocket.

All Figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

Where used in the various Figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “third”, “inner”, “outer”, “side”, “end”, “portion”,“section”, “longitudinal”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and similarterms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms havereference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appearto a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitatedescribing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A pitching training device according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention is shown in the drawings. In the preferred forms shownin FIGS. 1 through 5, the pitching training device includes a connectingelement 10 and a pocket 20 securely connected with the connectingelement 10 therein. The connecting element 10 is adapted to be attachedto the wrist of a throwing hand of a thrower (as shown in Fig.4). Thepocket 20 is adapted to receive a ball gripped in the palm of thethrowing hand.

The connecting element 10 is desirably of a flexible material such asrubber, nylon, cotton, or elastic fiber, which is configured to enclosethe wrist of the throwing hand. Desirably, the connecting element 10 isformed in a belt shape. Additionally, an area of the connecting element10 adapted to abut against the wrist of a throwing hand may be mountedsoft foam padding to improve thrower wearing comfort. Further, theconnecting element 10 defines bottom and top surfaces 11 and 12 arrangedat two opposite ends thereof. Moreover, inner and outer side surfaces 13and 14 are respectively extended between bottom and top surfaces 11 and12, and first and second coupling portions 15 and 16 are respectivelymounted on the inner and outer side surfaces 13 and 14. The first andsecond coupling portions 15 and 16 can be selectively coupled with eachother. In this embodiment, the first and second coupling portions 15 and16 are constructed of VELCRO.

The pocket 20 is desirably of a relatively lightweight and flexiblematerial such as nylon mesh or PVC mesh and should be sufficientlystrong to withstand the force exerted by the thrown ball withoutbreaking. Desirably, the pocket 20 is substantially non-stretchable sothat it does not snap the ball back toward the thrower after the ball isreleased from the thrower's throwing hand. In the perfected form, theappearance of the pocket 20 is generally formed in a strip type bag. Thepocket 20 includes open and closed ends 21 and 22 disposed at twoopposite ends thereof Furthermore, a length is extended longitudinallyfrom the open end 21 to the closed end 22 of the pocket 20 to reduce theair resistance when the thrower swings his arm and the pitching trainingdevice. A width defined at the open end 21 is narrower than a widthdefined at the closed end 22 in a non-use state (as shown in FIGS. 2 and3).

The open end 21 of the pocket 20 is securely connected with the bottomsurface 11 of the connecting element 10, and allows the thrower'sthrowing hand and the ball into the pocket 20. The closed end 22 of thepocket 20 limits the thrown ball that cannot move to outside of thepocket 20. An aperture 23 is extended from the open end 21 to a sideedge of the pocket 20, wherein a length defined from the open end 21 tothe side edge of the pocket 20 is smaller than 2 inches.

The ball is gripped in the palm of the thrower's throwing hand reachinginto the pocket 20 through the open end 21. The connecting element 10 iscurved so that the inner side surface 13 encloses the wrist of thethrowing hand. Furthermore, the first and second coupling portions 15and 16 are coupled with each other, so that the connecting element 10 isattached to the wrist of the throwing hand in a desired position, andthe top surface 12 faces to the thrower. When the thrower swings his armand the pitching training device, and releases the ball at a releasepoint, the thrown ball will be limited by the closed end 22 of thepocket 20, so that the thrower can throw the ball in the pocket 20repeatedly himself and does not require a partner to return the ball foranother throw. Additionally, the pitching training device can be used inboth indoors and out, even in a narrow space, and is not affected by theweather.

In view of the foregoing, an advantage of the pitching training deviceaccording to the present invention is that the thrown ball will belimited by the closed end 22 of the pocket 20 so that the thrower canthrow the ball in the pocket 20 repeatedly himself and does not requirea partner to return the ball for another throw.

Another advantage of the pitching training device according to thepresent invention is that the pitching training device can be used inboth indoors and outdoors, even in a narrow space, and is not affectedby the weather.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiment described herein is to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pitching training device comprising: aconnecting element alternatively attached to the wrist of a throwinghand of a thrower; and a pocket including open and closed ends disposedat two opposite ends thereof, with the open end of the pocket connectedwith the connecting element and allowing the throwing hand and a ballgripped in the palm of the throwing hand into the pocket, with theclosed end of the pocket limiting the ball.
 2. The pitching trainingdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting element definesbottom and top surfaces arranged at two opposite ends thereof, with thebottom surface connected with the open end of the pocket.
 3. Thepitching training device as claimed in claim 2, wherein inner and outerside surfaces are respectively extended between bottom and top surfaces,wherein first and second coupling portions are respectively mounted onthe inner and outer side surfaces, wherein the first and second couplingportions are alternatively coupled with each other.
 4. The pitchingtraining device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner side surfaceencloses the wrist of the throwing hand, wherein the top surface facesto the thrower.
 5. The pitching training device as claimed in claim 3,wherein the first and second coupling portions are constructed ofVELCRO.
 6. The pitching training device as claimed in claim 3, whereinan aperture is extended from the open end to a side edge of the pocket.7. The pitching training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lengthis extended longitudinally from the open end to the closed end of thepocket to reduce the air resistance.
 8. The pitching training device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the pocket is made of mesh.
 9. The pitchingtraining device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pocket is made ofnylon mesh.
 10. The pitching training device as claimed in claim 8,wherein the pocket is made of PVC mesh.
 11. The pitching training deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting element is made offlexible material.
 12. The pitching training device as claimed in claim1, wherein an area of the connecting element abutted against the wristof the throwing hand is mounted a soft foam padding to improve throwerwearing comfort.
 13. The pitching training device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the pocket is formed in a strip type bag.
 14. The pitchingtraining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aperture is extendedfrom the open end to a side edge of the pocket, wherein a length definedfrom the open end to the side edge of the pocket is smaller than 2inches.
 15. The pitching training device as claimed in claim 1, whereina width defined at the open end is narrower than a width defined at theclosed end.